“Mao Hengfeng petitioned for redress of coercive and abusive implementation of China’s Family Planning Policy. Shuang Shuying petitioned for official intervention in cases of forced eviction. Ye Jinghuan petitioned for a government investigation into an investment scam that cost Chinese workers tens of millions of dollars from their life savings.

The response to their exercise of the right to petition, protected under Chinese law: all three are in detention and subject to ongoing abusive treatment, including solitary confinement, physical punishment, and denial of medical treatment.

“In the final lead up to the Olympics, instead of cracking down on and rounding up petitioners and other activists, the Chinese authorities need to constructively address the serious problems petitioners are raising,” said Human Rights in China Executive Director Sharon Hom.

Each month in 2008, as part of its Olympics Campaign, HRIC features a person imprisoned for “exercising his/her human rights.” This month’s petition focus is on Mao Hengfeng.

Photos: Xinhua, via CRIENGLISH.com

Women enjoy themselves during a pillow fight at a theme park in Changsha on Mar. 4 to welcome International Women’s Day on Mar. 8.

China honors ten women as national exemplary workers at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Feb. 29.

Ethnic Mongolian women sing and dance to welcome the upcoming International Women’s Day in Qobuqsar County, Xinjiang Uigur Automomous Region on Mar. 2.